Caisson-dredger.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

R. A. GARDNER. GAISSON DRBDGER. APPLIOATIQN FILED 0011, 1-906.

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PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. R. A. GARDNER.

UAISSUN DREDGER.

APPLICATION FILED 0017.1, 1906.

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RAYMOND A. GARDNER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CAlSSON-DREDGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907.

Application filed October 1, 1906. Serial No. 337,032.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND A. GARD- NER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented a new and useful Caisson-Dredger, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to caissons to be used for mining and cleaning upbed-rock under water through the use of compressed air and gravel pumpsfor pumping the matter under the level of the water.

This invention is applicable for use in various situations and includesapparatus for leveling the machine so as to bring the caission inperpendicular position in order that it may be sunk.

The invention also includes a caisson of this description adapted to bemoved ove the ice or on land. I

The main object of the invention is to provide means whereby thebed-rock of the placer can be readily cleaned by hand while under thelevel of the water.

Other objects of the invention may appear from the subjoineddescription.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caisson dredger in position foroperation Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection on line Figs. 1 and 2, looking left. Figs. 4 and 5 show theclosed and open positions of the pump discharge. Figs. 6 and 7 show theopen and closed positions respectively of the receptacle for holding thecleanings of the bed-rock.

1 designates a caisson having a compartment 2 at the bottom whichterminates in a constricted neck or chamber 3 extending upward from thebottom of the compartment 2, and surrounded above by water compartments4 and 4 occupying the space formed by the constricted neck portion 3.The neck or constricted portion 3 forms an air chamber between the airlocks 5 and 6.

7 is a frame mounted on a platform 8 and extending around the caisson 1and having mounted thereon supporting guides 9 be tween which racks 10provided on opposite sides of the caisson are arranged to travel. 11 arepinions adapted to mesh with said racks 10, the same being operated byshafts 12 and gears 13, which latter gears are 'mounted on acountershaft 14;, which shaft in turn is operated by a pulley 15 andbelt 16 connected to a motor or other driving power 17, such forinstance as a steam engine or other form of motor. The motor 17 has ashaft 17 which is connected with the engine and capable of connectionwith an air pump, as seen at 19, the means for throwing said pump intorotative action with said shaft being illustrated at 18, and comprisinga clutch. This pump is employed to draw up the dredged material throughthe flexible hose 22 extending in the caisson.

A flexible tubing 20 extends through thewater compartment 4 and throughthe submerged compartment 2 of the caisson 1; said tubing 20 being ledover a roller 20 journaled in said frame 7 in order to facilitate thetravel of the tubing in the descent of the caisson.

21 is a pipe connection in the caisson located in the compartment 4, and22 designates a flexible hose in the caisson attached to the fitting 21and provided at the bottom there of with a grating 23.

24 is a winch for operating a cable 25 which may be used for shiftingthe machine from place to place by attaching the rope 25 to a dead-manand causing the cable to wind on the winch and thereby pull the entirestructure on the runners of the device.

26 is an electric generator for producing light and power.

' 27 designates an air pump, and 28 a storage tank for the air producedby the air pump, the latterbeing connected by pipe 29 in any manner,such for instance as reel 30, with a valve, hose or pipe 31 to supplyair to the bottom compartment 2 of the caisson. 32, 33, are the valvesofthe air pipe 31 in the caisson. The chamber formed between the air locks5 and 6 is supplied with air by means of the pipe 31 extending throughsaid compartment, the inlet of the air into this chamber beingcontrolled by valve 34 attached to a branch 35 of the pipe 31. Thepassage of air to the lower compartment is prevented by the valve 32,while the valve 34 admits the air into the air lock 3.

In order to provide for the accommodation of the workmen in descendingwith the caisson to carry out the work of dredging, 1 provide a foldingplatform 36 hinged or pivoted at 37, the two folds of the platform beingsupported by lugs 38 provided on the interior of the lower compartmentof the caisson.

In the event of the caisson landing on very uneven ground, which isparticularly the case in shallow waters, and which would have a tendencyto place one end of said caisson on a level higher than the other end, Irovide a flexible apron 39 on the interior 0' the bottom of saidcaisson, said apron being secured to the caisson bottom by means of ametallic ring 40, and the free end of said apron being supported andheld in place by pins 41. Thus, when unevenness in the formation ofriver or other bottoms is encountered, the apron is released from thesupporting pins 41 and allowed to fall over the particular piece ofground which it is desired to clean or dredge, whereupon the air fromthe air compressor displaces the water and leaves the space within theapron perfectly free and dry for the operator to carry out his work.This apron is in the nature of a cylindrical exten sion provided on theend of the caisson and is designed primarily to be swung beyond the endof the caisson when the body portion of the caisson itself is unsuitedfor the accommodation of uneven bed rock. It is rigidly secured withinthe end of the caisson and when projected beyond the end of the sameforms a cylindrical flexible inclosure into which the air is pum ed andthe water which may have entered, displaced by the equalization of theconfined air with the pressure upon the outside.

. 42 is an outlet valve connected to the water compartment 4; this watercompartment being provided particularly for the purpose of assisting thecaisson in its descent. 43 represents a water inlet for said watercompartment 4, the inlet being connected with any source of supply,which is immaterial in the construction of this particular form ofdevice. As the gravel, detrital earth, or

other fragments of rocks, are being sucked through the tubing 22 bymeans of the air pump, it enters, after its discharge through thevalve-gate 44, into the sluice-box 45 arranged immediately at thedischarge end of the suction-pipe 20". The valve-gate 44 is provided atthe extremity of the tubing 20 in order to prevent the escape of thecompressed air when the grating 23 of the tubing 22 is not submerged inwater which would permit all of the air to escape. This valve-gatecomprises a weighted member 46 having attached to it a valve cap 47forming substantially a cone and consisting referably of elastic oryielding material for t e purpose of effecting a perfectly snug andtight joint at the extremity of the tubing 20. On the weighted member 46is provided a pawl 48 extending re arwardly of the weighted member andadapted to exert its strain against the excessive pressure generated bythe air pump when the suction-tube is submerged. Th1s pawl engages arack 49 secured to and made a part of the extreme end of the tubing 20.

When the grating 23 is submerged in water and is performing its work ofdelivering gravel, sand, etc., into the sluice-box, this valve isallowed to remain open in order to permit the gravel and sand to escapeinto the sluice box 45.

This invention is designed particularly for use in countries whereintense cold prevails and the rivers are frozen from three to five feetin thickness, in which instance the runners 50 are called into play anddesigned to carry the entire platform containing the operating mechanismfor dredging. The plat form or base 8 is carried by the runners 50 bymeans of a ball-joint 51, swivel, or pivotal joint, as may be desired,in order to compensate for variations in the levels of the base withrespect to the runners when uneven surfaces are encountered. The base isprovided with a plurality of uprights 52 which are hollow and arrangedto accommodate a piston or plunger 53 operating in the bores of saiduprights 52. The means employed for operating these plungers or pistons53 for leveling I the base, constitute preferably pneumatic or fluidpressure means, in which instance the piston box,which in this case isthe u right 52 itself,will be connected with a flui pressure su ply pipe57 from the pump. When the fluid pressure is allowed to act on thepistons and to raise the base of the device, the swivels or ball joints51, resting on the runners, are called into play, as is perfectly clear.The pipe being connected with the source of supply from the tank 28,affords means for causing the base to rise with respect to the pistonsand the runners. This supply is controlled by the valve 58, and in orderto independently control one of the uprights or pistons irrespectivelyof the others, the valves 59 are employed as ex ediency may require. 60is an escape valve or permitting the exit of the fluid from the uprightswhen the normal position of the base is desired. These pistons areprovided on all four uprights of the base, and in order to maintain saidbase in its determined position, quadrants 54 or any other lockingmeans, are provided. In the case of quadrants, spring-actuated do s 55are employed to engage the notches 56 in the quadrants.

If it is desired to use this dredge and cais sonon land, rollers 57 areattached to the runners, these rollers being swiveled so as to allow ofthe caisson assuming any position.

What I claim is:-

1. A caisson having a flexible apron at its end, and means forsuspending said apron within said caisson.

2. Runners, a base on said runners, and a caisson carried by said base.

3. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson carried by said base, andmeans for lowering and raising said caisson.

4. Runners, a base on said runners, a

caisson carried by said base, and geared means for lowering and raisingsaid caisson.

5. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson on said base, geared meansfor operating said caisson, and means for operating said geared means.

6. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson carried by said base,means in operative relation to said caisson to cause the same to lowerand rise, and means for leveling said base. i

7. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson on said base, means inoperative relation to said caisson to cause the same to lower and rise,and means for leveling said base independently of said runners.

8. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson on said base, means inoperative rela tion to said caisson to cause the same to lower and rise,and fluid pressure means for leveling said base.

9. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson carried by said base,means in operative relation to said caisson to cause the same to lowerand rise, and means for leveling each end of said base independently ofeach other.

10. The combination with a base and runners, of means interposed betweensaid run ners and base for leveling said base with respect to unevenearthly formations, a frame carried by said base, a caisson in saidframe having racks, supports carried by said frame and bearing againstsaid racks to aline said caisson, means engaging said racks for raisingand lowering said caisson, a suction pipe extending through saidcaisson, and means for preventing the escape of the compressed air fromsaid suction pipe.

11. The combination with a pair of runners, of a base carried by saidrunners, interposed means for leveling said base with respect to saidrunners, said means having swiveled connections with said runners, acaisson on said base, means for raising and lowering said caisson, asuction pipe extend ing through said caisson, and means for preventingthe escape of air from said suction pipe.

1.2. The combination with a pair of runners, of a base carried by saidrunners, interposed means for leveling said base with respect to saidrunners, said means having swiveled connections with said runners, acaisson on said base, means for raising and lowering said caisson, asuction pipe extend ing through said caisson, means for preventing theescape of air from said suction pipe, said means comprising a valve, andweighted means for holding said valve against said suction pipeextremity.

13. The combination with a pair of runners, of a base carried by saidrunners, interposed means for leveling said base with respect to saidrunners, a caisson on said base,

means for raising and lowering said caisson, a suction pipe extendingthrough said caisson, means for preventing the escape of air from saidsuction pipe, said means comprising a flexible valve adapted to fit theopening at the extremity, of the pipe, weighted means on said valvearranged to hold said. valve flush in said opening, and means forpreventing the accidental opening of said valve.

14. The combination with a pair of runners, of a base carried by saidrunners, interposed means for leveling said base with respect to saidrunners, a caisson on said base, means for raising and lowering saidcaisson, a suction pipe extending through said caisson, means forpreventing the escape of. air from said suction pipe, said meanscomprising a flexible valve adapted to fit the opening at the extremity,of the pipe weighted means on said valve arranged to hold said valveflush in said opening, and a pawl carried by said weighted meansarranged to hold said valve in its normal position against the extremeopening of the suction pipe.

15. The combination with a pair of runners, of a base, pivotal meansinterposed between said base and runners for supporting said base, acaisson carried by said base, said caisson comprising an inclosure, awater compartment within said inclosure, inlets and outlets for saidcompartments, an air chamber between said water compartments, means forsupplying air to said air chambers, a folding platform in the bottom ofsaid caisson, and means for raising and lowering the caisson.

16. The combination with a pair of runners and a base, of means forpivotally supporting said base on said runners, fluid pressure means forcompensating for LlITQX GD: nesses, a frame on said base, a caissonwithin said frame, said caisson being provided with racks, means forguiding said caisson in said frame, means for raising and lowering saidcaisson, means for controlling said means, means for supplying air tosaid. caisson, and a source of supply for said means.

'17. The combination with a pair of run.-

I ners and a base, of fluid pressure means interposed between saidrunners and base for leveling said base with respect to said runners andforming a support for said base, a caisson carried by said base, meansfor supplying air to said caisson, means for raising and lowering saidcaisson, and means for controlling said means for raising and loweringsaid caisson.

18. The combination with a pair of run ners and a base, of fluidpressure means interposed between said runners and base for levelingsaid base with respect to said runners and forming a support for saidbase, a caisson carried by said base, means for supplying air to saidcaisson, means for raising and lowering said caisson, and clutch mech- &

anism for controlling said raising and lowering means.

19. The combination with a pair of run ners and a base, of fluidpressure means interposed between said runners and base for levelingsaid base with respect to said runments, and means for controlling thesupply of air in said flexible means.

20. The combination with a base having mounted thereon an aircompressor, an air tank, connections between said air tank andcompressor, an electric generator, means for driving said generator, acaisson, connections between said air compressor and said caisson, of apair of runners, means for pivotally mounting said base on said runners,and fluid pressure means for leveling said base independently of saidrunners.

21. The combination with a base having mounted thereon an aircompressor, an air tank, connections between said air tank andcompressor, an electric generator, means for driving said generator, acaisson, connections between said air compressor and said caisson, of apair of runners, means for pivotally mounting said base on said runners,fluid pressure means for leveling said base independently ofsaidrunners, and take-up means for propelling said base and runners.

22. A caisson having a flexible apron at its end, and a ring forsuspending said apron within said caisson.

23. A caisson having a flexible apron at its end, a ring for permanentlysecuring it to one end of said caisson, and means for suspending thefree end.

24. Runners, a base on said runners, a caisson carried by said base,means for causing said caisson to lower and rise, and means for levelingsaid base independently of said runners.

25. The combination with a plurality of runners, of a base carried bysaid runners, interposed means for raising and lowering said base withrespect to said runners and inde pend ently thereof, a caisson on saidbase,

.and means for raising and lowering said caisson.

26. The combination of a pair of runners and a base, flexibleconnections between said base and'runners, and means for raising andlowering said base independently of said connections.

27. caisson having an extension at the bottom thereof, said extensionbeing secured within said caisson and adapted to be swung beyond theextremity of the same and means for suspending said extension Within thecaisson.

28. The combination with a base and runners, of means interposed betweensaid base and runners for leveling said base, a frame carried by saidbase, a caisson in said frame, means for raising and lowering saidcaisson, a suction pipe extending through said caisson, and means forpreventing the escape of air from said suction pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los AngelesCalifornia this 21st day of September 1906.

RAYMOND A. GARDNER.

In presence of- JAMEs R. TOWNSEND, ANTON GLOETZOER.

